Davidson Seattle artist Susan Bennerstrom's oil pastels of interior and outdoor spaces have evolved into such refined studies of pattern, form and color that it's a stretch to call them realist. Bennerstrom's art is clean and formalist, but never cold. 313 Occidental Ave. S., 206-624-7684. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat. Ends Sat. May 29.

Martin-Zambito Recent work by Danny Pierce, who's been painting realist, vigorous everyday scenes of New York City since he was an instructor at Hunter College in the 1950s. 721 E. Pike St., 206-726-9509. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Sat. Ends Wed. June 2.

Bryan Ohno In her show of photographs, "60-Watt Fairy Tales," Anna Daedelus masterfully intertwines the realms of childhood and adulthood using light and shadow and a number of stuffed-animal costumes. 155 So. Main St., 206-667-9572, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wed.-Sat. Ends. Sat. May 15.

Howard/Mandville Gallery "Oil Painters of America," is a juried national show of more than 200 realist oil paintings. 120 Park Lane, Kirkland, 425-889-8212.

James Harris In Keith Tilford's magnificent debut solo show, "Plicature," explosions, books, and cryptic bits of language erupt in intricately scribbled drawings. Up close, the fizzes and pops of Tilford's work have a crazy, chemistrylike order. Step back, and many of the drawings have a tendency to resolve into images. 309A Third Ave., 206-903-6220. 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

Kuhlman Back in the 1970s, ads from the Art Instruction Institute promised that by taking the Institute's aptitude test, you could scientifically determine if you had right stuff to be an artist. Local artists including Tom Bagley, Ellen Forney, Joe Newton and Erin Norlin create their own twisted versions of Tippy the Turtle and other AII favorites. 2419 First Ave. (Belltown), 206-441-1999. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sat.

Solomon Fine Art The group show "Yarns" plays on both senses of the word: The works include Jenny Hellmann's embroidery and Dave Hughes' gothic text in Plexiglass. 1215 First Ave., 206-297-1400. 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.

Museum of Flight Artist Steve Maloney somehow acquired heaps of box cutters, pocketknives, and other dangerous objects confiscated at airport security checkpoints and has incorporated them into installations. Also on display, John Dibbs' aeronautical photography. 9404 East Marginal Way S., 206-764-5700, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily.

Museum of Glass Taking the medieval stained glass panel as her launching pad, Judith Schaechter creates sappy, violent, and just plain weird vignettes of early 21st-century life, all executed in absolutely gorgeous swirling, fractured bits of color. Also on display, 60 glass faces created by Marita Dingus during a recent five-day residency at the Museum and a retrospective of Italo Scanga, who was a frequent guest artist at the Pilchuck School until his death in 2001. 1801 East Dock St. Tacoma, 253-396-1768. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Sat. (third Thurs. of the month until 8 p.m.), noon-5 p.m. Sun.

Seattle Art Museum "Only Skin Deep," an exhibit from New York's International Center of Photography, explores the art world's own complicity in perpetuating, even creating, racial stereotypes over the last 150 years or so. 100 University St., 206-654-3100. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sun.; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thurs.

Tacoma Art Museum The theme of Tacoma Art Museum's latest Northwest Biennial is "Buildingwise" (guess it has something to do with the new building). In "Lewis and Clark Territory," contemporary artists investigate themes of race and place in the West 200 years after the Corps of Discovery. 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-272-4258. Every third Thursday free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurs.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.